Bates Joins Haslam as Director of Admissions for Graduate Business Programs

September 13, 2018

For Tom Bates, who recently joined the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business as director of admissions for graduate business programs, feeling that he fit within the culture of the college was a key factor in his decision to move from Indiana to Knoxville.

“The individuals that make up the Haslam community are extremely authentic and warm-hearted,” Bates says, who is excited about the college’s connections to industry leaders, its top-ranked supply chain program and its niche programs in areas like aerospace and defense and healthcare.

Bates, who relocated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, says his goals at Haslam include continuing with the college’s “tradition of a high-touch, applicant-friendly experience.” He wants to actively engage with Haslam’s alumni network and students on campus.

“Their stories are so impactful and resonate in a powerful way with prospective candidates,” he says. “We want to create additional market awareness for the MBA program and tell Haslam’s story locally, regionally and nationally.”

Bruce Behn, associate dean for graduate and executive education at the college, says that a proven track-record in administrating graduate business programs makes Bates a valuable asset to the college.

“We’re excited that Tom is here to build on the outstanding graduate admissions traditions of the past and to generate new initiatives that build up our Haslam MBA and specialty master’s programs,” Behn says. “We look forward to further reputational growth and increases in our rankings through Tom’s work.”